[Woodcarver] cottonwoodbark

[Classic Carving Patterns]

I had a question posted to me on one of my message boards and though I would
also post it here.  The person was asking how to sell their finished works
(pyrography) and whether to pursue art gallery space or craft show space.
Perhaps others will add ideas to this listing.

Thanks, Susan Irish

In my experience arts and crafts shows often do way better for carvers and
burners than art galleries when you are looking for sales for your work. 

Art galleries have limited space for work in their brick and mortar store
fronts, there is only so much room especially for 3-D display. This means that
as a carver/pyrographers your chances of getting space are extremely limited and
if you do win space the number of items they can show for you is limited. 

A gallery will charge up to 50% of the sale price of your work as their
commission. If they offer you a One Man show or Solo Show the costs of the
advertising and entertainment for the affair can also be charged against your
sales.

Galleries work extremely well for flat work as paintings, etching or prints.
Prints usually have the preference as they can be racked and are inexpensively
priced for customer from between $50 to $250. Plus print sales support the
framing business that most galleries have. 

High end arts and craft shows on the other hand are where an artist rents space
for the affair and then set up their own small portable shop front. Depending on
the show you might be renting a space inside a large building, a certain size of
grass plot or sometimes a section of tent. Check to see if you need to purchase
electricity or not ... if you need it. You will most likely need to furnish your
store settings as tables, table cloths and chairs.

For me the biggest difference between a gallery and an arts/craft show is the
atmosphere. A gallery is quiet, contemplative, one or two people at a time and
'I'm considering buying' place. A shows in noisy, busselly, sometimes hoards of
people and 'I have money in my pockets' place .... 

If I may be so bold as to throw out a few ideas for you to consider ...

1. Create your 'store front' carefully and well before you go to any show

Make it adjustable by using smaller table units (4' sections) that can be
rearranged to fit any space.

Make it match. Go ahead and invest some money into a nice looking
arrangement of matching furniture pieces instead of going to the basement and
grabbing some saw horses and old plywood scraps. The first looks professional
and profitable implying that you have made enough sales to justify the set up.
The latter looks throw together and just cheap so to the customer you obviously
are not a selling artist.

Don't use table cloths to "hide" structural units. Use cloth to give accent and
color to your pieces. Cloth works wonderfully as a visual divider between items
or groups of items.

I once saw a set up of shelves created with small step 5' high step ladders. The
ladders were painted bright fire engine red with black trim for the metal parts.
Then white painted boards were slid through the steps to create the shelving.
The craft ware could be set on the shelves, certain pieces featured on the step
ladders top board or inside the A shape of the ladder steps and more piece hung
from the sides of the ladders. Easy to put up, take down and extremely eye
catching.

2. Some things small and inexpensive - some things medium and affordable - some
things expensive and impressive - at least three things outrageously priced and
just in your face attention grabbers.

As a pyro show artist I would include key rings with quick and easy designs and
maybe ribbons/silk flowers on the key ring that anyone could afford. Next would
be my 'bread and butter' price range with items that both artsy and useful as
your purses or as spoon holders or letter boxes. Then I would show my
'commission' area of work as burnings of a pet portrait group along with the
original photos that I used. Finally I would show a few works that were priced
just above my choking limit as a framed and matted 12" x 24" full color dragon
burning or a full decorated man's leather vest.

(Choking price is where I still have my fingers tightly gripped around the work
but the money in your hands that you are waving under my nose smells awful
good.)

3. DON'T set a table between you and your customers. Keep an open area where you
are inviting them into your studio and shop area. A table becomes a visual
barrier between you, them and what you have to sell. It's the biggest barrier
for a customer to cross if they want to buy!!!!

Bring along another person so that you have one working the sale and one
watching the wares ... and take turns. Often my Michael is a far better sales
person than I am as he can brag about his wife far better than I can.

4. Whenever possible demonstrate at the shows. Set a small table at the side of
your booth ... in fact creep it out into the walking path. Have several pieces
on the table in different finished stages. Let your customers see how much work
goes into what they are going to buy.

Tell them about yourself, how you are a 'trained artist' or 'self-taught' artist
and a little something about why you chose burning ... customers love to take
home a story along with their purchased item.

7.  Add something smelly to your craft shop.  I know this one sounds funny but
smell is a major factor in catching peoples attention and in getting them to
remember you!  I learned this one through my favorite quilt fabric shop.  The
owner had bowls and bowls of potpourri everywhere in the shop.  Her store
smelled like apples and cinnamon.  Later when I would root through my quilt
fabric and come across a piece I had purchased at her shop that fabric still
smelled like apples and cinnamon ... guess who's store I thought of every time I
went looking through my fabric!

As a carver at a show I would hid cedar chips throughout the store area.  They
smell great and they have a commonly recognized wood smell.  As a pyrographer I
probably would use one of the musky incense smells, something masculine and
strong as sandalwood or a spice smell as nutmeg.

Smell sells ... it's scientifically said to be one of the ways we decide who we
will partner with as mates so to me it's fair game as a business owner.

6. Remember that most sales made through an arts and crafts show come AFTER the
show has closed not during the show. So have lots of hand out, fliers and
business cards ready. 

I remember one of my first showings was a real flop, I think we made all of
three sales that three day weekend. But the next weekend the phone rang off the
hook with people would had picked up a business card at the show and wanted to
set up a commission sale ....

Standard Disclaimer:  This is just my experience, others may have a totally
different view.  Please take what you want and throw the rest away.

Carving Patterns Online
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Classic Carving Patterns By L.S.Irish
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-----Original Message-----
From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net] On Behalf Of irmar125 at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 7:06 PM
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] cottonwoodbark

which is the best cottonwood bark for carving whimsical houses and light
houses. And where will you find the best buy for it   thanks.......Irwin

More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail!

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